The Uniting Church in Australia has apologised to victims of child sexual abuse, whilst Jehovah’s Witness elders have defended their practices of shunning victims.

The Uniting Church apologised to victims and outlined steps the institution will take in an attempt to make sure there are no more cases of abuse in the future.

Jehovah’s Witnesses have defended their current rule stipulating all victims of abuse must have a witness to substantiate their claims- if their abuser doesn’t confess. Their so-called “laws” also require victims who choose to leave the congregation to be shunned by all other members.

These “rules” are the result of the congregation following their scriptural disfellowshipping disassociation doctrine.

A victim of abuse by Jehovah’s Witness stated, ‘In our experience, they are the worst of all those who have been to the royal commission’

The ability of a repentant abuser to remain within the congregation is yet another practice of significant concern to the Commissioners.

The report (which contracted researchers from the Institute of Child Protection Studies, and the Australian Catholic University) found there is no coordination of prevention programs for those at risk. The report suggests these programs are unregulated and outcomes are under-evaluated.

The report found a lack of confidence from the community in how to respond to concerns of child sexual abuse.

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